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Designing For Online Learning

Online learning options are a great way to ensure continuous learning when in-person learning is not an option.  Planning, designing, and implementing an educational experience that allows for meaningful learning to happen is crucial to support the best learning environment related to student learning styles, medical conditions, and flexible learning schedules.  On this page, we will explore available resources for online/blended learning in regard to state guidelines, best practices, staffing models, professional learning, Wisconsin partner solutions, and the design of learning experiences.

What Funding Supports Online Learning Costs for the 2021-2022 School year?

ESSER Program Funds - Eligible programming supports can use ESSER I (expires 2022), II (expires 2023) or III funds (expires 2024) - use the funds in the order of the expiration dates
  • Note on funding - ARPA (ESSER III) funding is NOT dependent on 2021-2022 learning modalities count of f2f minutes for the funding formula

Title IVA Funds

What are the Different Online Learning Models and Course Access Options?

Cooperative Agreements and Consortium Programs
Wisconsin Virtual School (CESA 9)

  • Grades 6-12 courses with a teacher or course purchase with the option to use your own teachers

  • K-5 Digital Courses to use with your own teachers

Virtual Charter versus an Online Program

  • Do I need a virtual charter to serve my resident or open enrolled students in online offerings? No, extension for this flexibility for the 2021-2022 school year

  • Clarification for an extension by the legislature for one more year of leniency regarding the service of NON-RESIDENT OPEN ENROLLED STUDENTS (everything else is status quo) in the following situations (June 11, 2021 - DPI District Administrator Bulletin explaining Act 18 for flexibility in 2021-2022)

  • Legislative extension of flexibility for this next year means you CAN continue to serve any non-resident, open enrolled students in 100% virtual offerings

  • If a consortium of districts create a virtual program and have students enrolled into the program, then the consortium must form a virtual charter school. One of the districts must be the authorizing district for the charter school. Students cannot access virtual programming (whether a school or program) from a non-resident district unless they are physically present within a school district. This is true whether the student open enrolled into the district or is attending via an intergovernmental agreement to form a consortium. 2021 WI Act 18 only affects open enrolled students’ ability to attend a 100% virtual program/school in a nonresident district for the 2021-22 school year. Students attending 100% virtually via an intergovernmental agreement (not open enrolled) must attend a virtual charter school in the 2021-22 and all future school years.

  • Act 18 does not apply to other operating online programs/offerings like course options, articulated courses with technical schools or colleges, distance education network courses

  • Can I operate a program without a virtual charter? Yes
    • DPI Fostering Innovation Guide allows for innovative instructional design options, including online or blended (pg 16) - normally open to only resident students but an exception for 2021-2022 as noted above

What Wisconsin Planning Support Resources are Available?

Online Student Readiness Rubric (page 11) helps to identify the skills and student agency required for online learning to help match a student with this learning modality as a choice

What are the Staffing Models for Online Learning Options?

  • Grow your own - district staff

  • Wisconsin Virtual School - instructors available pending grade level and model you are designing for

  • Highly discouraged to NOT continue teachers in concurrent instructional environments as designated staff to serve at home or virtual students is the best scenario for everyone

Licensing Requirements for Online Instructors

  • For Wisconsin teachers of students engaged in online learning in virtual charter schools and traditional public schools, all standard licensing requirements apply. If a district or charter school contracts for online courses and the teacher is located in another state, that teacher does not have to hold a Wisconsin license if the teacher holds a valid license or permit to teach the corresponding subject and grade level in his/her home state (see Wis. Stat. 118.19(1b)). For teachers of students engaged in online learning in charter schools that are not virtual charter schools (and therefore unavailable to nonresident students attending virtually), all charter school licensing requirements apply. There is no additional certificate or training required although districts are highly encouraged to review options

  • Districts can apply for an emergency license with one-year stipulations to help staff an online program offering.

What Grade Band Planning and WI Resources are Available?

Wisconsin Digital Learning Collaborative (eSchool Network and CESA 9 WI Virtual School) - ESSER Supported Resources at discounted prices and free technical support until June 30, 2022

Looking for Digital Content for your K-12 online programs?
Elementary

  • DPI does not support online learning for grades 4K-2

  • Recommendation to have additional print and manipulatives for younger grades to encourage inquiry, engaged, and non-screen time learning

District created content leveraging local tools and instructional resources
K-5 Florida virtual digital (search elementary in course catalog) with all accompanying print resources included to purchase directly at WDLC subsidized costs (note this is the same content they provide to Kiel Virtual, Rural Virtual Academy) on Buzz LMS which also allows for additional local district activity and resources to be added - pricing list and preview accounts available to your district upon request

Middle School
Looking for Digital Content for your K-12 online programs?
High School
Looking for Digital Content for your K-12 online programs?

What Professional Learning Resources are Available for Online Instructors and Leadership Teams?

What are the Guidelines and Best Practices to Serve Special Education Students In Online Environments?

What are Best Practices for Attendance in Online/Blended Environments?

Attendance in Online/Blended Environments- can apply to Virtual Learning Time or quarantined students as well as online environments about how to monitor attendance

What are examples of District Handbooks and Implementation Resources?

Access to catalog policies, program guides, student guides, teacher guides, and more to help support your online programs

What Family Resources are Available to Support Students in Online/Blended Environments?

Wisconsin Digital Learning Collaborative (WDLC) Parent Guide explains best practices and strategies to support your students in online environments

Serving f2f students best practices with intermittent Virtual Learning Time to support continuous learning

Virtual Learning Time Resources

Planning for Intermittent Closures including options for cleaning, professional learning/prep time, and mitigation measures specific to designing continuity of learning

Online Learning Resources